In Shrewsbury, 92 acres hit by Asian longhorned beetle

Elaine Thompson TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Published Wednesday February 27, 2013 at 6:00 am

Updated Wednesday February 27, 2013 at 9:09 pm

PHOTO/ AP PHOTO/JIM COLE

A May 21, 2009 file photo, shows a dead Asian longhorned beetle in its adult stage, front, and as a larva at the state Department of Resources and Economic Development Division of Forest and Lands office in Hillsboro, N.H.

Thousands of trees will be removed from 92 acres over the next three months because they are infested with the Asian longhorned beetle.

Selectmen approved the removal of trees at their meeting Tuesday night.

Clint McFarland and Julie Coop, representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said the infested host trees, mostly red maple, are on 92 acres north of St. John's High School athletic fields on Main Street and south of Route 290. Some of the property belongs to St. John's, some to the town and some is in a Worcester-owned gun range.

“For 92 acres, it's going to be thousands of trees,” Mr. McFarland said after the meeting.

They said they hope to begin the work soon and have it completed by May 30.

Mr. McFarland said that so far, 800 to 900 infested trees have been removed in town.

USDA workers are finishing up removal of infested trees on about 12 acres on Ireta Road and Thestland Drive. He said about 150 trees will have to come down near Colonial Drive and Coachman Ridge. The homes are in Shrewsbury but the back of the property where the trees are situated is in Boylston, he said.

Ms. Coop told the board that the town has been awarded two $70,000 grants to help with replanting. The money has to be spent by June 2014.

She said the replanting staff will canvass affected neighborhoods to talk to homeowners about their options for replanting.